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10 reasons Peter Robinson’s ‘No Cure For Love’ would make an amazing television series

If you’re a fan of mystery novels or television then you’ve probably heard of the Yorkshire-born writer Peter Robinson, most famous for his stories about Inspector Alan Banks. We received a copy of his 1995 book No Cure For Love, which was released on paperback for the first time in the UK in January, and couldn’t help but be blown away by how amazing a television series it would make. True, there’s no dearth of excellent crime drama on television right now – but we do appear to have an insatiable appetite for the really good stuff. This is the really good stuff.

Frankly, I’m surprised it’s not been adapted already. Here are 10 reasons why we think No Cure For Love would make an amazing television series.

1. It was written in 1995, but it’s more topical now than ever before.

Robinson’s era-transcending tale of a young actress in the spotlight being pursued by an intelligent and deadly obsessive fan shines a light upon the lack of privacy celebrities suffer. With the rise of the internet, social media and constant media coverage – this is more topical now than ever before.

2. The pacing and depth are perfect for the small screen.

No Cure For Love is a well paced build that would be perfect for a series on television (perhaps four parts, as this is how the book is naturally separated), which could take the time to draw out the intricacies in the plot and explore the complex backgrounds of the characters involved. It ought to be savoured, enjoyed, with just enough of the mystery revealed each episode to have viewers demanding more.

3. It’s filled with multi-dimensional and interesting characters.

The characters are all multi-dimensional and complex, and Robinson peels back one layer at a time as the story permits. The dedication to the depth of each character gives an insight onto their thoughts and motivations in the way that only good fiction does, and offers plenty of material that could be fleshed out even further for an actor. Each chapter we dig a little deeper into the worlds of television actress Sarah, LA detective Arvo, and even the psycho stalker who has been following Sarah as all their worlds collide.

4. We all love a good serial killer drama.

Just look at the viewing figures on soaps whenever a serial killer is introduced – Lucas on EastEnders, Richard on Coronation Street, Silas (and the Gloved Hand Killer) on Hollyoaks – and those are soaps. There’s something morbidly thrilling about a serial killer drama, where detectives must think on their feet to solve the mystery before another murder occurs. No Cure For Love would make a fabulous paranoid thriller, as one feels the need to look over their shoulder every few seconds while reading it.

5. The series features a relatable English protagonist stuck in the scary world of Los Angeles.

No Cure For Love’s protagonist is the Barnsley-born actress Sarah Broughton (real name Sally Bolton, a name too working class for LA studios), who provides a relatable perspective on the fast-paced, frightening and exhilarating world of LA. The character’s background is understandable, and keeps us on her side, while her surroundings are anything but – the perfect set up for a mystery series.

6. Peter Robinson’s other series DCI Banks has been a hit for ITV.

Peter Robinson has of course found television success before with the highly successful ITV series DCI Banks, which follows his stories about Inspector Alan Banks. The drama is ongoing, debuting in 2010 and starring Stephen Tompkinson. In 2013, the series won in the drama category at the regional Royal Television Society Yorkshire Programme Awards. In December 2015, a fifth series of DCI Banks was commissioned.

7. Bosch writer Michael Connelly describes No Cure For Love as “that rare book that entertains, enthralls and also teaches”.

Mystery writer Michael Connelly has won nearly every award available to mystery writers and has recently seen television success himself with the Amazon Prime Video adaptation of his novels about LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. Praise from Connelly is not something to be taken lightly.

8. The show-within-a-show format would make interesting television.

No Cure For Love taps into an international fascination with celebrity and the dual world between fantasy and reality. The concept of a show-within-a-show (Sarah is an actress on a popular crime drama, Good Cop, Bad Cop), is one that both excites and causes trepidation as to whether it can be pulled off adequately. With this being something that is not in focus, but very much a part of the story, a television adaptation of No Cure For Love could pull this off.

9. There are some genuinely shocking twists that would make for great television.

A mystery must-have, Robinson’s works are abundant with moments one just doesn’t see coming, and with enough surprises for cliffhangers or pesky ad-breaks. This is definitely one of those stories to discuss with colleagues over the water-cooler. Who is pursuing Sarah? Who is next on this stalker’s hit list? Will Arvo discover the true perpetrator before it’s too late? The race against time is exhilarating, and will leave viewers bursting to talk about it with anyone who will listen.

10. Peter Robinson is a number one bestselling author and multiple award winner.

Peter Robinson is not short of plaudits himself – being a multiple time number one bestseller and award-winning writer. Some of his notable awards include the CWA Dagger in the Library in 2002, an Anthony Award in 2000 and a Barry Award in 1999. This is a storyteller who knows what he is doing – and fans come back to time and time again.